title: Third-generation cephalosporins: comparative antibacterial activity against routine clinical isolates.
abstract: The in vitro antibacterial activity of five third-generation cephalosporins (thienamycin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, moxalactam and cefoperazone) was compared with that of three second-generation cephalosporins (cefoxitin, cefamandole and cefuroxime) against 313 routine clinical isolates. Thienamycin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime and moxalactam had superior activity against coliform bacilli compared to cefoxitin, cefamandole and cefuroxime. Only three cephalosporins (ceftazidime, thienamycin and cefoperazone) had significant activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both third-and second-generation cephalosporins had similar activity against gram-positive cocci, except for thienamycin, which was the most active cephalosporin against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis. No single cephalosporin showed overall superiority in antibacterial activity, but thienamycin and ceftazidime were the most active against the range of bacteria tested.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins